David Beckham, who never seems to take a PR step wrong, this season has proven to be "almost a supermodel pro" in the way he handled both his exile from Real Madrid and the criticism surrounding his impending departure from the Spanish giant to the L.A. Galaxy, writes Ian Plenderleith of USSoccerPlayers.

However, as much as Becks deserves credit for the way he's conducted himself, Plenderleith asks, "isn't that what any player on Beckham's wages ought to do?" The media would like to play his recall to the Real Madrid lineup as something truly remarkable, his is the same sort of test countless professionals go through every year (although most players aren't exiled after they sign with another club). True, lesser men sometimes hang their heads in acceptance of their fate, but nevertheless, Beckham's resurgence -- commendable though it may be -- is a story that "has run more than long enough," Plenderleith says.

Moreover, his "humility is getting a little hard to stomach," he adds. After saving his team's blushes yet again against Valencia last weekend, you'd think Beckham would want to get in Coach Fabio Capello's face and gloat. But no -- as competitive as David certainly is, he manicures that image every bit as carefully as his hairstyle. But isn't the kind of pious talk he fed Sky News -- "I would never come out publicly and criticize [Capello]. He's too respected in the game"- just a little too much? Nevertheless, you can score another point for his humility act after Real Sporting Director Pedrag Mijatovic came out and said publicly the club made a "mistake" in the way it handled Beckham's contract extension.